Customers of a popular Hackney bike repair shop have spoken about their dismay after it was torched by arsonists last Monday.

Bike Yard East, based in a wooden hut on the grounds of Hackney City Farm, Goldsmith’s Row, Hoxton, was set alight just after midnight.

The business was so badly damaged in the attack it has been closed temporarily.

Customer Rick Hewett, 47, who is director of a PR company in Printing House Yard, Hackney Road, Hoxton said: “It’s a real shame what happened. Co-owner Celia Duncan does a brilliant job.

“She runs a great service which is used by lots of people. It’s much cheaper than big bike shops or chains.

“She works hard and is always there with smile. If it’s a minor job, she’ll do it for nothing. It’s a valued service much-loved by us.

“For somebody to vandalise it like that beggars belief. Everybody’s really shocked and annoyed by the news.”

Both Ms Dawson and her business partner Therese Kilpatrick, who have built the business up over the last four and a half years, were unavailable for comment.

If anybody has any information, please call the Metropolitan Police on 101.